Humidifying device for internal combustion engines



Oct. 22, 1940.

E. NIETHAMER HUHIDIFYING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES FiledApril 21, 1938 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 22, 1940 g 2 218 53;

UNITED STATES ATEN io'rFica f BUSTION ENGINES Edward Nicthamer, BayCity, Mich. Application April .21, 193s,se iei no. ome

3 Claims. (01. 123 m 1 Oneof the prime objects of the invention is toThe container. is preferably formed design a simple, practical, andeconomical huas shown inFigs. 3 and 4- of the drawing, al midifyingdevice by means of which steam and/ or though it may be formed of anyother shape demoist air can be supplied to the intake manifold sired,this container snugly fitting and partially 5 of the engine to provide amoist explosive mixembracing the surface of the exhaustpipe and 5 ture.being secured in position by means of fiat sheet A further object is toprovide a new and novel metal strips I1, the end sections of which arearrangement and combination of metal container rounded and threaded toengage a clamp 18 which associated with the exhaust pipe for generatingembraces the lower half of the exhaust pipe, nuts the steam drawn intothe intake manifold. I9 serving to secure the parts in assembled rela-10 A still further object is to provide a humidifytion. ing device whichcan be easily and quickly as- The liquid container is formed to fit thecurve sembled and mounted, which requires no change or bend of theexhaust pipe, and a connection 20 fitting, or alteration in the engineor vehicle is provided on the upper end thereof, a similar body, andwhich can be mounted by unskilled connection 2| being provided on theshell [3, and 15 labor. a flexible hose member 22- connects thecontainer A further object still is to provide means for with saidshell.

easily and quickly draining the liquid from the I wish to directparticular attention to the receptacle. fact that there are noadditional openings in the With the above and other objects in view, theliquid container with the exception of an over- 20 present inventionconsists in the combination and fiow 23 provided as shown to indicatewhen the arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully decontainer isfull. scribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, Under certainconditions, it is desirable to and more particularly pointed out in theapdrain the container from time to time; for inpended claims, it beingunderstood that changes stance, in cold weather when the vehicle is tobe 25 may be made in the form, size, proportion, and idle for aconsiderable period of time, and I minor details ofconstruction,'without departing therefore, provide a drain cock 24 onthe lower from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advanend section ofthe container. A spring pressure tages of the invention. closure member25 forms a part thereof, and a Inthe drawing: rod 26 is connectedthereto and leads to the foot 30 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of aninternal comboard of the vehicle (not shown) so that it can bustionengine showing my humidifying device be readily actuated by the driverby merely pressin place thereon. ing on the end of the rod, the springpressed clo- Fig. 2 is an enlarged part sectional view showsure member25 springing back to original closed ing the valve connection to theexhaust manifold. position as soon as the pressure is released. 35, Fig.3 is an enlarged side elevational view of In practise the hot exhaustgases from the enthe water container, exhaust pipe, etc. gine quicklyheat the liquid in the container so Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalview taken on that humidity is supplied almost as soon as the the line44 of Fig. 3. engine is started, the valve l2 being manipulated Fig. 5is an enlarged fragmentary detail showto re at th v lume a mitted. 40ing the drain cock. It is important that no dirt, dust, or other for-Referring now to the drawing in which I have eign matter enter theliquid container, and it shown one embodiment of my invention, the nucanbefilled at any regular gas station in the meral 8 indicates aconventional internal com- Same manner as is the radiator. This isaccombustion engine provided with an exhaust pipe 9 Pushed by removingthe 11058 22 from the fi t g 45- as usual, a manifold in forms a part oft 2| placing afunnel (not shown) in the end theregine, and a pipe nipplell opens into said maniof and Pouring the liquid r u e ose, the fold andis connected to a valve section I 2 for OVBIflOW being P d to indicatewhen the controlling the admission of moist air to the receptacleis,full- 60 manifold, a cylindrical shell I3 surrounds the The devicecaneasily nd di y be installed valve l2, and an operating rod I4 isconnected w th m n tools a i a s rt space of t m to said valve and leadsto the vehicle instrument and will enable the motorist to travel moremiles board l5 to facilitate manipulation thereof, all as per gallon ofgasoline consumed, and thus effect shown and described in Patent#2,112,972 granted a substantial saving in the operation of the autotome under date of April 5, 1938. mobile.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have designedand perfected a very simple, practical and economical humidifying devicefor internal combustion engines.

What I claim is:

1. In a humidifying device for internal combustion engines andcomprising a valve mounted on and communicating with the intake manifoldof the engine, a shell mounted on and surrounding said valve, anelongated, readily bendable, sheet metal liquid receptacle mountedlengthwise on the exhaust pipe of the engine and embracing same,flexible means establishing communication between said shell and thereceptacle, straps for securing said receptacle in position, and anoverflow at the upper end of the receptacle to indicate when thereceptacle is full.

2. A humidifying device for internal combustion engines comprising avalve mounted on and communicating with the intake manifold of theengine, a shell surrounding said valve, an elongated, sheet metal,liquid receptacle mounted lengthwise on the exhaust pipe of the engineand shaped to fit the longitudinal curvature thereof, a flexible pipeestablishing communication between said shell and the receptacle, anoverflow port at the upper end of the receptacle, and a springretracted, foot actuated drain cock on the lower end of the receptacle.

'3. The combination with an automative .vehicle including an engine, avalve mounted on and communicating with the intake manifold, a shellsurrounding said valve, an elongated, sheet metal, liquid receptaclemounted lengthwise on and closely fitting the engine exhaust pipe andcommunicating with said shell, a drain cock mounted on the lower end ofthe receptacle and provided with a spring retracted closure membet, arod connected to the closure member and leading to the foot board of thevehicle, and adapted to be actuated to drain the receptacle, and meansfor holding the receptacle in set position.

EDWARD NIETHAMER.

